JP2009288982A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine which detects that the last product is dispensed from a rack, that is, sold-out. <P>SOLUTION: The vending machine includes a rack having in each column 32 storing products a pusher 35 for pushing the products from behind the products to dispense one product, and a catcher mechanism 5 that runs in front of the rack to receive the product dispensed from a selected column 32 and feed the product to a product outlet. The vending machine is provided with a sensor shield 37 attached to the pusher 35 so as to project in front of the rack 33 when the pusher 35 pushes out the last product stored in the column 35, and a sensor 52 attached to the catcher mechanism 5 to detect the sensor shield 37 projecting in front of the rack, to detect the pusher 35 pushing out the last product stored in the column 33. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells packed products, can products, and other products, and relates to a vending machine that can be viewed from the outside while the products to be sold are stored in columns.

  2. Description of the Related Art Vending machines are widely known in which products to be sold are visually recognized from the outside in a state of being stored in a column, and a catcher mechanism receives a product from a selected column and conveys the product to a product outlet.

  This vending machine receives a product from a selected column by receiving a product from a selected column by running in front of the shelf provided with a plurality of vertical shelves, a column provided on each shelf, and storing a product. It has a catcher mechanism that conveys the product at the outlet, and has an outer door and an inner door fitted with glass on the front.

  In this vending machine, when purchasing a product, it is necessary to pay the price by inserting the money from the coin insertion slot or the bill insertion slot, and to select the column in which the product to be purchased from the numeric keypad is stored. There is.

  When the column that receives the price and stores the product is selected, the vending machine moves to the front of the column where the catcher mechanism is selected, and after receiving the product from the column, the catcher mechanism receives the product. It will be transported to the product outlet.

  By the way, when a product is not stored in the selected column, that is, when the product is sold out, the product cannot be taken out from the column. For this reason, in such a case, the user is prompted to select a new product (column) or a refund is made.

  The detection of whether or not a product is stored in the selected column is performed by a product detection sensor provided in the catcher mechanism, and until it is detected that the product is not stored in the selected column. It moves to the front of the selected column and detects whether or not the product is stored. In other words, even if the user can visually recognize that no product is stored in the column, if the column is selected (once), the catcher mechanism will It moves to the front of a rack (for example, refer patent document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-077044

  However, if the price of the product is paid with electronic money as in a vending machine these days, it is difficult to respond to the refund in terms of operation. In other words, electronic money must be refunded in cash or the amount of refund must be charged to a medium such as a card, but such operation is not permitted.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of detecting that the last product has been paid out from a column, that is, sold out.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a rack having a pusher for paying out a product by pushing out the product from the back of the product for each column in which the product is stored. In a vending machine equipped with a catcher mechanism that travels in the front area of the rack, receives goods delivered from the selected column, and conveys the goods to the product outlet, the pusher is stored in the column It is characterized by having sold-out detection means for detecting that the product has been pushed out.

  The vending machine according to claim 2 of the present invention is the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the sold-out detecting means is attached to the pusher, and the pusher pushes out the last product stored in the column. A sensor shielding plate protruding forward and a sensor that is attached to the catcher mechanism and detects the sensor shielding plate protruding forward of the rack are provided.

  Further, in the vending machine according to claim 3 of the present invention, when it is detected in the above-mentioned claim 1 or 2 that the sold-out detecting means pushes out the last product stored in the column, A selection invalidating means for invalidating the selection of the column until the product is filled is provided.

  Since the vending machine according to the present invention detects that the pusher has pushed out the last product stored in the column, thereafter, the product is not stored in the column, that is, it can be sold out.

  Also, when the sold-out detection means detects that the last product stored in the column is pushed out, the selection of the column is invalidated until the product is filled in the column, so that the column where the product is sold out is displayed. No choice and no need for refund. Therefore, an electronic money service can be employed.

  Exemplary embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing an internal structure of the vending machine shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention is a vending machine that sells packed products, can products, and other products, and the products to be sold are stored in a rack. Visible from the outside.

  The vending machine includes a box-shaped main body cabinet 1 having an open front surface and an outer door 2 that closes the front opening of the main body cabinet 1. A glass 21 is fitted in substantially the upper half of the outer door 2 so that a product housed inside can be seen from the outside of the vending machine.

  Further, an outer door lock 22, a coin slot 23, a bill insertion slot 24, a return lever 25, an integrated indicator 26, and a push button numeric key 27 are provided on the middle right side of the outer door 2.

  The outer door lock 22 is locked in a state where the outer door 2 is closed, and the outer door 2 can be opened by popping up. The coin insertion slot 23 and the bill insertion slot 24 are openings for receiving the price of goods (coins and banknotes), and the coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 23 are coin mechanisms (coins) disposed inside the outer door 2. The bill inserted in the processing device and inserted from the bill insertion slot 24 is accommodated in a bill validator (banknote identification device) disposed inside the outer door 2.

  The return lever 25 is an input means for inputting the interruption of the transaction. When the return lever 25 is operated, change is returned from a return port 28 provided below the outer door 2. The integrated display 26 displays the column number input from the push button numeric key 27 in addition to the change of money, the amount of money inserted, etc. during the sale. The push button numeric key 27 is used for inputting a column number of a column in which a commodity desired to be sold is stored, and includes a numeric keypad button 1 to 0, a determination button, and a correction button.

  A product outlet 29 is provided at the center of the lower part of the outer door 2. The product outlet 29 is for taking out products, and the sold products are taken out from the product outlet 29.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the main body cabinet 1 is defined by a product storage chamber 3 and a machine chamber 4. The product storage chamber 3 is provided with a plurality of shelves 30 in the vertical direction (the vending machine according to the present embodiment has seven shelves). A plurality of racks 31 are mounted on each shelf 30 in the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, the rack 31 has columns 32 that store products side by side. The rack 31 includes two columns 31 each having two columns 32, and the column 32. There are three racks 31 in which three are connected. In the vending machine according to the present embodiment, two racks 31 and three racks 31 are mounted so as to have seven columns 32 on one shelf. Each of these columns 32 is given a unique column number, and the column 32 to be paid out is specified by inputting the column number of the column 32 storing the commodity desired to be sold from the push button numeric key 27. It is like that.

  The rack 31 is configured to be able to be pulled out from the shelf 30, and when the column 32 is filled with products, the rack 31 has a handle (not shown) on the lower front side of the rack 31, and the entire rack is pulled out. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, the column 32 is a housing recess having a rectangular cross section that opens upward, and extends forward from the back. The rack 31 includes a transport belt 33 for each column 32. The conveyor belt 33 is wound between a driven pulley (not shown) that is rotatably supported at the back of the rack 31 and a drive pulley (not shown) that is rotatably supported at the front of the rack 31. The upper surface (conveying surface) of the column 32 travels on the upper surface (product placement surface) of the column 32. A gear 34 is fixed to one end (left end) of a drive shaft (not shown) that supports the drive pulley so that power is transmitted from a catcher mechanism (bucket portion) described later to rotate the drive pulley. It has become.

  A pusher 35 that pushes the product forward from the back is engaged with the transport belt 33. The pusher 35 travels with the conveyor belt 33 by engaging with the conveyor belt 33, and pushes out the products at the innermost side of the column 32 from behind, thereby pushing out all the products accommodated in the column 32 forward. ing. In order to fill the column 32 with products, the pusher 35 may be detached from the conveyor belt 33 or moved together with the conveyor belt 33.

  A gate member 36 is disposed for each column 32 at the front end of the rack 31. The gate member 36 advances into the column 32 in a standby state and closes to prevent the product from dropping from the column 32, while the gate member 36 retracts from the column 32 when the product is dispensed and opens from the column 32. The product can be paid out.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a catcher mechanism 5 can run in the front region of the product storage chamber 3. The catcher mechanism 5 discharges the product from the selected column 32 and transports the delivered product to the product outlet 29. The bucket unit 51, the X-axis transport unit (not shown), the Y-axis It has a transport unit (not shown).

  The bucket unit 51 is a part that receives the product paid out from the column 32 and conveys the product to the product outlet 29. The bucket unit 51 travels in the left-right direction of the vending machine by the X-axis transport unit, and travels in the vertical direction of the vending machine by the Y-axis transport unit. Therefore, the bucket unit 51 can receive a product from any selected column 32 and can transport the product to the product take-out port 29.

  Further, the bucket unit 51 includes a gear (not shown) that meshes with the gear 34 of the selected column 32 and travels the transport belt 33, and a drive unit (not shown) that drives the gear. Further, the bucket unit 51 includes driving means (not shown) for opening and closing the gate member 36 of the selected column 32.

  Accordingly, when a commodity price is inserted from the coin insertion slot 23 or the bill insertion slot 24 and a column number is input from the push button numeric key 27, the catcher mechanism 5 causes the bucket portion 51 of the column 32 specified by the column number to be specified. The product is paid out from the column 32 by moving it forward (dispensing position).

  When the commodity is paid out from the column 32 to the bucket portion 51, the catcher mechanism 5 moves the bucket portion 51 to the rear (extraction position) of the commodity outlet 29 and carries it out to the commodity outlet 29.

  By the way, the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with sold-out detection means for detecting that all the products stored in the column 32 have been carried out. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the sold-out detection means is configured by a sensor 52 provided in the bucket portion 51 and a sensor shielding plate 37 provided in each column 32.

  The sensor 52 provided in the bucket unit 51 is, for example, an optical sensor typified by a photo interrupter. When the sensor shielding plate 37 is inserted between the photo interrupters to block the light, it is determined that the sensor is sold out. It has become.

  The sensor shielding plate 37 provided in each column 32 is a member that moves together with the pusher 35 that pushes the innermost product from behind, and the pusher 35 pushes out (dispenses) the innermost product (last product). In this case, the sensor shielding plate 37 is detected by the sensor 52. The sensor shielding plate 37 is formed by bending an elongated rectangular plate-like body, and is attached to the upper front portion of the pusher 35. Thus, the sensor shielding plate 37 attached to the front upper portion of the pusher 35 extends to the front side after extending to the side of the pusher 35.

  As in the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, in the vending machine provided with the sold-out detection means, when the last product stored in the column 32 is paid out, the sensor shielding plate 37 is removed from the column 32. It protrudes and is detected by the sensor 52. Then, the vending machine determines that the column 32 is sold out, and thereafter, the column 32 is sold out until the product is filled, and the column number of the column input from the push button numeric key 27 is invalidated. To do. Note that selling out is canceled by a remote control operation or the like accompanying the filling of goods.

  After it is determined that the conveyor belt 33 is sold out, the conveyor belt 33 is reversed and the sensor shielding plate 37 is pulled in from the front of the column 32 so that the sensor shielding plate 37 and the bucket portion 51 do not interfere with each other. 51 is moved to the rear (extraction position) of the product outlet 29, and the product is carried out to the product outlet 29.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention determines that the column 32 is sold out when the last product stored in the column 32 is paid out, and thereafter, the filling of the product is performed. Until this is done, the column 32 is sold out, and the column number of the column 32 input from the push button numeric key 27 is invalidated. Therefore, it can be set as the vending machine corresponding to an electronic money service.

It is a front view of the vending machine which is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of the vending machine shown in FIG. It is the top view which showed the column which accommodated the goods, and the bucket which carries out goods, Comprising: The state before selling out is shown. It is the perspective view which looked at the column and bucket shown in FIG. 3 from the warehouse inner side, Comprising: The state before selling out is shown. It is the expansion perspective view which expanded the column and bucket shown in FIG. It is the top view which showed the column which stored the goods, and the bucket which carries out goods, Comprising: The sold-out state is shown. It is the perspective view which looked at the column and bucket shown in FIG. 6 from the warehouse inner side, Comprising: The sold-out state is shown. It is the expansion perspective view which expanded the column and bucket which were shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet 2 Outer door 21 Glass 26 Integrated indicator 27 Push button numeric keypad 29 Product outlet 3 Product storage chamber 30 Shelf 31 Rack 32 Column 33 Conveyor belt 34 Gear 35 Pusher 36 Gate member 37 Sensor shielding plate 5 Catcher mechanism 51 Bucket part 52 Sensor

Claims (3)

A rack with a pusher that pushes out the product by pushing out the product from the back of the product for each column in which the product is stored and a front area of the rack, and receives the product paid out from the selected column. In a vending machine equipped with a catcher mechanism that transports products to the product outlet,
A vending machine comprising a sold-out detecting means for detecting that the pusher has pushed out the last product stored in the column.   The sold-out detection means is attached to the pusher, and when the pusher pushes out the last product stored in the column, it is attached to the sensor shielding plate that protrudes forward of the rack and the catcher mechanism, and protrudes forward of the rack. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects the sensor shielding plate.   When the sold-out detection means detects that the last product stored in the column has been pushed out, it comprises selection invalidation means for invalidating the selection of the column until the product is filled in the column. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

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